shorkley



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. SHORKLBY.

PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA.

No. 409,874. Patented Aug. 27, 1889.

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2 Sheets-#Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. SHORKLEY.

PHOTOGRAPH() CAMERA.

No. 409.874. Patented Aug. 27, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE SHORKLEY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,874, dated August 27, 1889.

Application filed March 16, 1889. Serial No. 303,570. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SHORKLEY, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Cameras, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved swinging back especially adapted for detective-cameras to hold the plate-holder always in a vertical position irrespective of the position of the camera-Casin g, so that the objects photographed-such as houses, for instance-always appear in a natural position on the dry-plate.

The invention consists of a swing-back and a universal joint connecting the said swingback with the camera-easing.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding` parts in all the figures.

Figure l is an end elevation of a camera provided with the improvement, parts being in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with parts in section. 3 is an end View of a modified form of the improvement, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same.

The Camera-casing A, of any approved construction, is provided at its rear end at the top and bottom .l and B', respectively, with a vertical plate O, carrying in its middle a bracket D, supporting a universal joint E, connected with a vertical plate F, ysecured to the swing-back G, connected in the usual manner withthe bellows Il and held in the rear end of the camera-casing. The universal joint E is located centrally, so as to be in line with the center of the lens in the front end of the camera-casing. The swing-back G, on account of being universally jointed to the casing A, is free to swing in any direction.

On the vertical plate F, before mentioned, is arranged a circular tube K, the center of which is in the univeral joint E. This circular tube K contains a quantity of a loose material L, preferably mercury, which serves to throw the swing-back G always into a vertical position irrespective of the position of the cameracasing A. The heavy liquid L in the tube K always seeks its level by the laws of gravity, so that no matter in what position the cameracasing may be the swing-back G will stand vertically. The swing-back G supports the plate-holder I in the'usual manner, the plateholder being locked in place by the springs J, held on the swing-back. The plate-holder is in front of the plate F and the universal joint E, so that the latter does not interfere in any manner with the insertion or removal of the plate-holder I.

In order to lock the swing-back G in place,

yI provide it with a screw N, projecting from one side and passing through a slot O, formed in a plate O, extending from the middle of the swing-back G forward to the inside of the side part P of the casing A, as is plainly shown in Fig. The plate O is provided with a setscrew Q, projecting through a longitudinallyvextending slot R, formed in the side P of the casing A. lVhen the said screws N and Q are loosened, the swing-back is free to assume its natural vertical position by the action of the heavy liquid in the circular tube K. The segmental slot O permits a forward and backward swinging motion of the swing-back G, and the plate O is free to move forward and backward, the set-screw Q traveling in the slot R. As soon as the desired position of the swing-back is obtained, the set-screws N and Q may be tightened, thus holding t-he swingback in a Vert-ical position. It will be seen that as the universal joint E is in the center of the camera, in line with the center of the lens, the dry-plate will always be in the correct position in regard to the lens, and as' the dry-plate is always held in avertical position by the action of the heavy liquid L a correct exposure can be made, the objects photographed not appearing distorted on the dryplate. Thus it will be seen that an automatic swing-back is provided in the rear end of the camera.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and et I connect the swing-back G by the universal joint E with the rear end of the camera; but instead of the circular tube K and the mercuryIi, I provide means for moving the swingback G into the desired position by hand.

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For this purpose I provide the vertical plate F at the top and bottom with sidewise-extending springs S, each provided at its outer end with a tooth adapted to engage a notched bar T, secured longitudinally in the top and bottom B and B of the camera-casing. The extreme outer ends of the springs S are provided with convenient handles, of which the operator can take hold in order to press the springs inward, so as to disengage the same from the notched bars T, at the same time being able to turn the swing-back G in any desired direction, and then when he releases his pressure o n the handles the llugs S engage the notched bars T and lock the swing-back in the desired position. As the swing-back is hung on the universal joint E, the operator, by disengaging the lugs S from the notched bars T, is enabled to swing the swing-back G into any desired position irrespective of the position of the casing A.

. Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a swing-back, of a universal joint connecting the said swing-back with the camera-casing, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a weighted swing-back, of a universal joint connecting the said swing:back with the camera-casin g, substantially as shown and described.

3'. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a swing-back universally jointed to the camera-casing, of a tube held on the said swing-back and containinga loose mate- -rial which always seeks its level and throws the swing-back into a vertical position, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a photographic camera, the combination, with ,a swing-back adapted to support the plate-holder, of a universal joint held centrally on Vthe said swing-back in the rear of the said plate-holder and universally jointing the said swing-back with the camera-casing, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a swing-back adapted to support the plate-holder, of a universal joint held centrally on the said swing-back in the rear of the said plate-holder and universally jointing the said swing-back with the camera-casing, and means, substantially as described, for automatically moving the said swing-back into a vertical position, as set forth.

6. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a swing-back adapted to receive la plate-holder, of a universal joint held centrally on the said swing-back in the rear of the said plate-holder and universally jointing the said swing-back to the camera-casing, a

circular tube held on the said swing-back concentric With the said universal joint, and a heavy liquid contained in the said circular tube, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a swing-back adapted to receive a plate-holder, of a universal joint held centrally on the said swing-back in the rear of the said plate-holder and universallyjointing the said swing-back to the camera-casing, a circular tube held on the said swing-back concentric with the said universal joint, a heavy liquid contained in the said circular tube, and means, substantially as described, forlocking the said swing-back in place after being auguide-plate held on the said swing-back for guiding the latter when seekin g its normal position, and means, substantially as .shown andv described, for locking the said guide-plate onto the said swing-back and the camera-casing, as set forth.

10. In a photographic camera, the combina-v tion, with a camera-casing, of a swing-back held in the rear of the said camera-casing and a universal joint for connecting the said Iswing-back with the said camera-casing, substantially as shown and described. 1l. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a camera-casing, of a swing-back held in the rear of the said camera-casing, a funiversalvjoint for connecting the said swingback with lthe said camera-casing, and means', g

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substantially asl described, for adjusting the said swing-back on the rear end of the said casing, as set forth. j

12. In a photographic camera, the combination, with a camera-casing, of a swing-back held in the rear of the said camera-casing, a universal joint for connecting the said swingback with the said camera-casin g, means, su'bstantially as described, for adjusting the said swing-back on the rear end of the said casing, and a locking devicefor fastening the said swing-back in place after being adjusted, as set forth. 1 GEO. SHORKLEY. Witnesses:

THEO. G. HosTER, C. SEDGWICK.

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